Cartridges



(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 1..

- P. L. GHAMBERLIN. METHOD OF CHARGING CARTRIDGES.

WITNESSES:

Patented June 16, 1885.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sweets-Sheet 2.

I (No Model.)

I. L. CHAMBERL'IN. METHOD OF GHARGIN-G CARTRIDGES.

' Patented June 16, 188.5

. WITNESSES:.

BY Wm?! ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.,

Patented'June 16, 1885.

wvvllzrllrlllllll F. L. GHAMBERLIN.

METHOD OF GHARGING CARTRIDGES.

(No'ModeL) I l 1/ law/4.1%

W BY

ATTORNEYS VII/1 (No Model.) v I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. R P. LJGHAMBERLIN.

METHOD 0]? CHARGING CARTRIDGES.

' Patented June 16, 1885;

I I ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

P. L. OHAMBERLIN. METHOD OF CHARGING CARTRIDGES.

Nd. 320,219. Patented Jun 16, 1885..

ATTORNEYS STATES ATFNT @FFME.

FRANKLIN L. CHAMBERLIN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

fiPIiBiIiEEKCATIQW'imminE part of Letters Patent No. 329,219, dated June 16, 1885.

' Application new November is, 1884. (No an To all whom it may concern.-

it known that i, FRANKLIN L. CHAM- nnnnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at {)leveland, in the county of Cnyahoga and State of @hio, have invented new and ns l T O;l1lllt8ii1 the Art of Loading Jr a hells by Machinery, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention has for its object to provide a new and useful step in the art of loading cartridges 1y machinery.

The invention will be first described, and the improvements hereinafter specifically claimed.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section in the plane mar, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section in the plane 114/, Fig. 1. Fig. i is a vert-icai section in the-plane z :4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in the plane :vw'. Fig. 4, looking upward. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the powder or shot discharge in the plane 1/ y, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical section in the plane 2' 2, Fig. 6, when the discharge is closed. Fig. 7* is a similarsection when the discharge is in position to be opened. Fig. 8 is ahorizonlal section in the plane a w", (i. Fig. 9 is a vertical sect-ion in the plane 3 3 Figs; fland 3. Fig. 10 is a transverse section'ot' the crimper in the plane a" m", Fig. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the cart-ridge- ,shcll when crimpcd in the plane y" y". Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a sectional View of the marking dovicc.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. In the drawings, the letter A designates a column which supports the platform I and in which is firmly secured the vertical spindle C.

1)} is lhcshell'carricr, which rests upon the platform B,and:tu riislooscly upon the spindle t). A stepeby-step' movement is imparted to the car rier by any mechanism suitable for this purosc,such for instanco,'as a do a whichcxl b7 i tends'fi-om the main shalt E, Figs. 1 and i, and whlclrrngagcs with a series of cavities orrecesscs, b, Fig. 5, in thcbottoin surliiciof the carrier. Altcroach forward movement the carrier islockcd by a st0p-pawl,'c, Figs. 1 and 5, which engages with one of the holes c, and which is thrown out of such hole by a cannf, 1, which is mounted on the inain shaft and acts upon a lever, 11, just before the next forward move ment of the carrier is to take place. The lever y can be depressed by handso as to release the carrier Whenever it is desirable. In the circuin ference of the carrier are a series of semicircular recesses, h, which correspond in number and position to the number and'posilion of'the propelling-cavities I). In the example shown in the drawings nine such cavities are shown, so that for each revolution of the main she ft. the carrier is turned one-ninth ot' a whole revolution. Each of the semiciu cula-r recesses It in the carrier is provided with a semicircular door 1 which swings on a vcrtical pivot, j, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and which is provided with a pin, k, Figs. 1 and 3, projecting beneath its bot-tom edge. The door is normally retained in a closed position by a spiral spring, l, wound round its pivot, (see Fig. 1;) but as the carrier g volvos the pin it of each door engages with 'aastat-ionary cam, in, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 9.) which is firmly fastened to the platform 1- in close proximity to the tubc'F, through which the cartridgeshells are fed to the machine. The tube F consists of a stationary scclion,'f", which is firmly secured to the plat l'orm B. and the lower portion of which is cut away to such an extcnt that it permits the doors '5 to pass on its inside. (Sco'Fig. 9.) That portion of the stationary section f" which-is situated above the carrier D is somicylindrical, (see Fig. 3,) and the movable section f." is hinged thereto by a vertical pivot, f, round which is coiled a spring, f", Fig. 1, which has a tendency to keep said movable section closed, so that the same, together with the stationary section forms the tube F. A carl ridgeshcll dropped into this tube rests upon the platform 13 in a vertical position, and as the 'arricr D revolves in the direction of the arrmvshown near it in Fig. 3, the door t' next to the tube F is gradually opened by the cam in, so that it passes in front of lliosholl situated in ihelube F, and when the pin it of the door'has passed the cam in the door closes and forces the shell into the recess 71 of the carrier. The motion of the carrier is so timed that the carrier remains stationary in the position shown in Fig. 3, the door 1' of the recess h being partially open. On the next forward movement of the carrier the recess h is moved beyond the tube F and during this movement the door i closes upon the 1 next shell.

shell in the tube, and as the motion of the carrier continues the movable section f of the tube F is forced open against the action of its spring and the shell is carried to the position indicated by the letter S in Fig. 3, and hereinafter designated as the first station. Imm diately after the shell has passed out of the tube F the movable section of this tube closes, leaving the tube in the proper condition for the reception of the The shells may be dropped into the tube F by the person tending the machine; or they may be fed to said tube over a chute, G, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When the chute used, it is made long enough to receive va large number of cartridgeshells, and it is provided with an automatic cut-ofi",ivhich permits the shells to drop into the tube'F successively at the proper intervals. As the shell contained int-he tube F is carried out of this tube to the first station S, Fig. 3, its rim acts upon alever, n, which is firmly mounted upon a 'verticai spindle, o. The foot of this spindle has its bearing in a socket formed in the piatl'orm B, and it extends up through an arm, H, which extends from a hub, I, mounted upon the vertical spindle 0. (See Figs. 1, 6, and 8.) Round thespindle 0 coiled a spring,

p, Fig. 1, which has atendeecy to throw the lever n, Fig. 3, inward toward the carrier D, and on the upper endot' said spindle o is mounted a pinion, g, which meshes into a segmental gear, 0', mounted on a vertical tube,

8. (See Figs. 6, 7, and 8.) The movementof the segmental gear 1' is limited by a stop, t, Fig. 8. The tube shas itsibearing in the arm H, and it extends from a shell, u, from which rises the cup '0, which supports the. powder container J. The neck of the cup 12 fits a' socket formed in the end of an arm, K, which extends from the hub I, so that when the lever n is moved outward by the action of the shell in the first station, S, Figs. 3 andv 8, the powder-container is swiveled into the po sitiou' shown in Figs. 6, 7, 7*, and The object of this movementof the powder-container is to throw the powder-discharge L in gear with the mechanisnnwhich serves toopen the same at the proper time. This powder-dis charge consists ot'a tube, 1", which fits the shell a, and is provided with a segmental opening, I. By turning the tube 1 in the shell uthe opening l can be brought'in position to communicate with the cup 12 or-with the discharge-' tube .9. In the tube l are fittedthe measuring. tubes F, the heads i of which leave a space, 1

which, whenever the opening 1 com um nicates with the cup 11, beeomes charged with powder,

and when the tube 1 istnrned in the direction of the arr'ow,(marked near it in Fig. 7 so that the opening Z communicates with the dis-- charge-tube s, the powder contained in the measuring-space Z flows out into the shell behead, N, which is guided on the central spindle, (J, and to which a rising-and-falling motion isim parted from the main shaft E. From the tube Z extend three pins, Z Z Z, and when the powder-discharge is in the position shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 7*, the plate M on its downward movement first strikes the pin Z and turns the tube Z, so as to throw the pins Z? Z in gear with the slots at m, respectively, and to tiring the opening 1 over the discharge tubes. The slot in is of such a length that the opening Z remains over the discharge-tube 8 3, sufficient length of time to allow all the powder contained in the space Z to How down into the shell. On the upward movement of the bar M the tube Z is turned back to its normal position. It will be seen from this description that the powder-discharge L will not be opened if it is not turhcd into position to and, since this movement is produced by the der, no powder will flow from the discharge unless the shell which is to receive the same is in the proper position. By placing the operation of opening the powder-discharge under the control of the sheil to be charged the danger ofspilling the powder over the machine during the operation of loading the shells is avoided, and the operation of loading the cartridges means of my machine can be carried on with perfect safety; whereas if the operation of opening the powder-discharge controlled by means independent of the shell to be charged, and it happens that noshell is in position to receive the powder when the over the machine and may be the cause of an explosion. The shot-discharge is constructed precisely like the powder-discharge. The shell a, Fig. 7, may be providedwitha packing, a, so as to prevent the powder or shot from passcartridgeshell, after having been charged with powder, is movedto the second station, S, by the next movementof the carrier, and as soon as theshell releases the lever nthe spindle 0 follows theaction' of the spring p, and the powder-discharge is returned to its normal position, in which it is not affected by the-bar M. As the shell is being carried from the first to the second station its r'imacts upon the lover O, which is mounted upon a vertical spindle, o. This spindle has its beariegbelowin a socket in the platform and abovein 'an, arm, P,

On the spindle 0, near its upper end, is firmly mounted a lever, 0*, With"a curved slot, 0',

This pin projects from a carriage, p, which which carries the wad-pusher p.

The wad-container Q consists of a series of vertical rods or of a tube, and it isprovided with a gate, g, which can be adjusted so that the lowest wad in the wad-container can be pushed cut by the pusher 1). As the rim of discharge is opened,suoh powder will be spilled ing between said shell and the tube P. The

bring the pins 1 Z Z in gear with the bar ill,

action of the shell which is-to receive the powwhich extends from-the huh 1, Figs. 1 and 3.

which engages with a pin, 0, Figs. 3 and 4.

moves in a radial slot, p, in the arm P, and

v The shell has now reached stat-ion S, right heneath the thimble q, Fig. 4, andthe'wad. sit uated upon said thiinhle is driven down into the shell by the raninier B. The thimbleq is titted into a socket in the 'arm P, audit is supported by a spring, qflFig. t, so that when the rammer It strikes the wad upon the thimble the spring yields and the thirnble is driven down so as to embrace the mouth of the cartridge-shell C", and prevent the same from being spread by the entrance of the wad. The rammer It is fitted into a hollow screw-spindle, T, which screws into the cross-head In this hollow spindle is placed a spiral spring,

1-, which acts upon a shoulder of the raminer, and the tension of which can be adjusted by a nut, r titted upon the upper end of the rannner, which extends through the top of the screw-spindle 1'. On the rannncr are marks indicating the pressure to which the raminer is adjusted. In the example shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, it is adjusted to twenty pounds pressure, and when. it drives the wad into the shell the powder contained therein is compressed with a pressure equal to twenty pounds. By turning the screw-spindle 9" this pressure can be increased or diminished. By

"the subsequent movements of the carrier D the shell is moved successively to the stations S S, in each of which it receives an additional wad. Then it is moved to station S in which yit receives the shot which is introduced into the shell from the shot-containcr-J, precisely in the same manner in which the powder is introduced from the powdcrcontainer J. After'the shell has been charged with shot it is moved by the carrier to the station S in which it receives a wad, and then it is moved to station 8, in which it is crimped. This operation is ciiectcd by means of the crimper T, the form of which is shown in Figs. I and 4. It consists of a thimble which is provided on its inner surface with a series of inwardlyprojecting ribs, (see Fig. 10,) which compress the month of the shell C in the'manner indi cated in Fig. 11. In the example shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, the erimper is secured to a rod, t, which passes loosely through an arm, U, extending from the hub, and also through the cross-head N, and which is provided with two steps, if t". Inthe example shown in the drawings these stops are formed by nuts, so

that they can be adjusted toward or from each other. When the cross-head occupies its highest position, the crimper is'sustained by the stop i at a slight..distance above the shell, and. when the cross-head descends the crirnper catches over the l110l1th 0f the shell,

. and by the action of the crosshead upon the stop t the crimper is depressed nndihc month of the shell is criinpcthas already described. By the next movement of the carrier 1) the shell is moved to station S where it is exposed to the action of the marker Y. This marker consists of a tubular rod, 1*. which is secured to the cross-head N, and ot' a die, r, which is inserted into the bottom end of the rod o. (Sec .Figs. 1 and 12.) On the rod 1 is secured a. tray, c, which swings on pivots c, and which contains the inking-pad, Q A spring, o, retains the inkingpad in contact with the die. When the cross-hcaddcscends, the tail-end of the tray c" strikes a stop, c which extends from the hub I, Fig. 12, and by these means said tray is turned so as to allow the die 1;" to act upon the wad contained in the top of the shell. The rod 0 is made telescopic, and the lower portion thereof is exposed'to the action of a spring, so that the die acts upon the wad with a yielding pressure. 'After the wad in the top of the shell has been marked the carrier D is moved forward so as to move the shell to stations, At this station the door i,w11ich retains the shell in the cavity h of the carrier, is opened by the cam n, and the loaded cartridge drops down through an opening, (P, in the platform B,

Figs. 2 and 3, into a chute or hopper, which conducts the same into a suitable receptacle. The movements of the carrier D take place when the cross-head N has reached its highest position. openings, d, one at each .of the stations S S S", Figs. 2, 3, and 4:, and these holes are normally. closed by the ring-plate d which contains a series of holes, d, and which is fitted into a recess inthe platform. In the normal position of the ring-plate the holes (1 are intermediate between the stations; but if this ring-plate is turned by means of the handle (1", Fig. 3, so as to carry the holes d over the holes (1 in the platform, any of the shells may be droppeddown by opening the door 3, which retains the same in the carrier. The huh I his the central spindle G loosely, Fig. 4, and it is supported by a pin, 0, which extends through a-rod, 0-, and through slots 0" in the central spindle, O, the upper portion of said spindle being .bored out to receive the rod 0. The upper end of this rod is provided with a screwthread,'which engages with a tubular nut, c. This nut is fitted into the upper end of the spindle C, and it is provided with a head, a, by means of which it can be turned. The object of this arrangement is to-provide means for adjusting the various devices supported by the arms which extend from the hub I, and to bring said devices in the proper relation to the shells to be loaded, since my machine can be used for loading shells of different lengths.

X is an alarm, which is in position to be actuated by the ramnier B, Fig. i, which v enters the shell to a depth beyond the point In the platform B are a series of too which it would reach if the shell had been correctly charged, the collar r strikes the lever r and the alarm is sounded. The shell is then removed from the'carrier in the manner already described before it is exposed to the action of thecrimper and the marker, and after its contents have been removed it can again "be fed into the machine to receive a correct charge. The collar r is adjustable on the rammer. V

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The method herein described of charging cartridges, which consists in intermittently moving the shells on a carrier to the powder or shot discharging devices, and causing the shells so intermittently moved, by direct presscharging deviccs, and by'such movement releasing and so restoring said devices to their normal or closedposition, substantiallyas set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set. my hand and seal in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses. FRANKLIN L. CHAMBERLIN. [its] v Witnesses:

LEWISVV. FORD, L. S. FISH. 

